Story by: Grant Clark
Sharay Trotter scored a career-high 27 points, fellow freshman Kayla Jackson hit five 3-pointers, and the South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) women's basketball team notched its biggest win this season with a 63-57 triumph over Centralia College at the Health & Wellness Center on Wednesday, February 23.
In addition to her 27 points, Trotter also had a career-high eight steals against Centralia. The freshman ranks fifth in scoring and fifth in steals in the conference this season.
With the victory, the Clippers improved their Northwest Athletic ConferenceWest Region record to 5-3, placing them in third place, just a game behind Centralia (6-2) for second. The top four teams out of the region qualify for the NWAC tournament. SPSCC, which has won three straight games, will host Tacoma Community College on Saturday, February 26. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Trotter registered her fifth 20-point game this season by hitting 12 of 18 shots from the field while playing 36 minutes. She was equally impressive on the defensive end, adding a career-high eight steals.
After missing all four of her shots from long range in a win over Highline College, Jackson responded by going a season-best 5 of 11 from beyond the arc (45.5 percent). Her previous benchmark for 3s in a game was four, which she has done twice this season. Jackson finished with career-high 17 points.
Of all her triples, none were bigger than Jackson's final two. She drained her fourth 3 of the game with 3 minutes, 40 seconds remaining in the contest to reclaim the lead for the Clippers at 55-54, then followed up a Trotter basket by connecting on another 3-pointer 90 seconds later, pushing the SPSCC advantage to 60-56.
Defensively, the Clippers put the clamps down on the Trailblazers in the final moments, holding Centralia without a field goal over the game's final 2 1/2 minutes while closing things out on an 8-1 run.
SPSCC freshman Sharay Trotter (left) scored a career-high 27 points to help the Clippers defeat Centralia, 63-57. It marked the third consecutive win for South Puget Sound. Photo credit: Grant Clark
Trotter's big night pushed her back within the NWAC leaders in scoring. She is averaging 16.6 points per game, placing her fifth in the conference.
SPSCC finished with 15 steals as a team, marking the third consecutive game and 11th time this year the Clippers posted double digit steals. In addition to Trotter, SPSCC also received two steals each from Payton Foster, Honey Let Padasdao and Nikeshia King. The Clippers continue to be one of the NWAC leaders in steals, ranking third in the conference as a team with Trotter and Foster ranking fifth and sixth, respectively, in steals per game.
Paced by Brandie Tobin's seven boards, South Puget Sound Community College held a 43-33 edge in rebounds. The Clippers also received six rebounds apiece from Trotter, Jennie Goldsberry and Let Padasdao. Tobin also joined Trotter as the team's assist leader, both handing out four assists. In addition to her 27 points, Trotter also had a career-high eight steals against Centralia.
The Clippers have four games remaining in the regular season. They will follow up their game against Tacoma Community College with home dates against Green River on Wednesday, March 2 and against West Region leader Lower Columbia on Saturday, March 5 before closing out their slate at Pierce College on Wednesday, March 9.